The Hope College Board of Trustees has committed the college to being a significant partner in the proposed Holland Area Center project.

The college is pledging $1 million to the Holland AreaCenter Joint Building Authority conditioned on voter approval onNovember 2, according to President James E. Bultman. "We are an enthusiastic partner in the Area Center projectbecause we believe it is an appropriate collaborative effortbetween private and public entities," Bultman said. "Thecollege's participation is in keeping with its long standingcommitment to the greater Holland community." Bultman said the college will be soliciting funds fromdonors to meet its commitment. Hope would pay its pledge inequal installments over a three-year period through 2001. Hope officials note that the multipurpose community centerhas the potential to enhance a variety of college activities,ranging from intercollegiate sports contests; to concerts,speakers and banquets; to special events like the college'scommencement and Parents Weekend activities. Hope has played its men's basketball games at the HollandCivic Center since it opened in 1955, but has not been able tohost the NCAA playoffs in recent years because the size of thefloor does not meet regulations. A new Area Center would givethe college and community the opportunity to host this and othersimilar events. "The preliminary design concepts of the Area Center willallow us to enhance the small college atmosphere that is pleasingto our fans," said William Anderson, vice president for businessand finance. "At the same time, we see this facility asproviding space that does not now exist anywhere in thecommunity. For example, there is presently no place where wecan hold an appropriate indoor commencement ceremony." "The prospect of an outdoor ice skating rink in closeproximity to the campus that would provide an additionalrecreational opportunity for our students also excites us,"Anderson added. Anderson also noted that the college brings thousands ofvisitors to Holland every year through its summer conferenceprograms and that the addition of the Area Center will providethe potential for even a greater economic impact on thecommunity. This is not the first time that Hope College has steppedforth to support a community-based project. In the late 1970s,for example, the college cooperated in a tangible way to makeconstruction of Holland Municipal Stadium a reality.